Learn to Dive in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic’s Highlights
One of the Caribbean’s most famous holiday destinations, the Dominican Republic has white sandy beaches, blue skies, and good weather all year-round. It has some of the best caves and caverns in the region, with some pristine reef and wall dives too. The Dominican Republic has over 166 km of coral reefs, two barrier reefs, with over 64 types of soft and hard coral.
There are dives of various depths suitable for every level of diver, up to 40 meters, with various bottom structures including sand, stone and coral.
Along the Caribbean side, there are a huge number of dive sites featuring wrecks and caves, luscious underwater fauna, and a constant climate without changing seasons leading to abundant marine life. The option to spot manatees, humpback whales and sharks is possible.
When is the best time to go diving in Dominican Republic?
Scuba diving can be done all year-round in the Dominican Republic, 365 days a year. From September to November, it is the rainy season, but it usually only rains once a day for a short time. December to May is the coolest and best conditions, it is also when the humpback whales migrate to mate.
Water Temperature: The water temperature is warm all year from a low of 25°C in February to 29°C in October.
Currents: On the Atlantic Coast, there are usually strong currents. On the Caribbean side, the currents are mild.
Visibility: The visibility is usually very good ranging from 15 to 30 meters.
The Dominican Republic’s best dive sites
Isla Catalina
Isla Catalina is world-famous as one of the best places in the Caribbean to go diving. The island remains protected and the currents are not too strong. The Wall offers an impressive wall dive ranging from 5 meters to 50 meters and is accessible to all levels. There is a huge variety of hard and soft coral to look at, combined with all the tropical fish and a chance to spot a manatee. The Aquarium is another popular site for Open Water Divers offering a nice and shallow dive where you can spot eels and rays.
La Caleta Underwater National Park
Located offshore close to Boca Chica, divers will enjoy exploring La Caleta Underwater National Park, a protected marine park. It is one of the country’s proudest assets, offering coral and marine life. There are over 14 dive sites located in the national park. There are reefs, walls, drift and wreck dives to enjoy. Several ships including The Hickory and the UFO were sunk to create artificial reefs and to create a thriving ecosystem. Divers should pay extra attention when diving in the marine park not to damage coral or disrupt marine life.
Coral Gardens, Sosua
The Coral Garden features a mesmerising 30-meter wall featuring corals, rocks, swim-throughs and caverns. Connected to the Three Rocks dive site it has soft and hard coral formations teeming with whip coral, burst coral, sea fans and plumes. It is located about a 5 minutes’ boat ride from the beach and divers usually do a drift dive. Full of tropical fish, there is also the chance to spot lobsters, turtles, stingrays and eels.
About the country
The Dominican Republic is a Democratic nation with a rich history. It was the first permanent Spanish settlement in the Americas. Christopher Columbus made it his home, perfect for launching attacks across the Caribbean or the United States. It has the Caribbean Sea to the South and the Atlantic Ocean to the North. It is also amongst the most diverse Caribbean countries in terms of people, nature and geography. Over 6,000 species of flora and 7,000 species of fauna can be found. Dominicans also share a unified passion for music and dancing. Birthplace of the Bachata, it is the perfect place to learn a new skill.
Recreational Courses in Dominican Republic
Dive Centers in Dominican Republic
Getting to the Dominican Republic
With several international airports, the Dominican Republic is easily accessed by other countries. From the United States, the Dominican Republic is not far, only 4 hours away. Taxi services are available from the airport. Some cruise ships stop off in the Dominican Republic.
Other important information
- Capital: Santo Domingo
- Official Language: Spanish
- Demonym: Dominican
- Currency: Dominican Peso
- Calling code: +1809, +1829, +1849
- Driving Side: Right
- Population: Close to 11 million
- Pressure: Pounds/square inch (psi)
- First Stage: INT/Yoke
